Thursday, 31 July 2008

A risk calculator from the Australian National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre that raises awareness of breast cancer and informs individuals of the risk factors which can be influenced, and what to do about them.

Thursday, 10 July 2008

HealthMap uses up to date feeds from various sources to highlight infectious disease outbreaks from around the world. It colour codes the severity of an outbreak on the basis of news reportage about it. It's free to access and has the potential for being a powerful public health tool.

More proof that eating broccoli is good for you. This article in Wired Science discusses the evidence that some men who posses the GSTM1 gene react well to cruciferous vegetables and may offer a measure of protection from prostate cancer.

Wednesday, 25 June 2008

A novel but slightly draconian approach to managing obesity in Japan from the NY times.

'Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. That represents more than 56 million waistlines, or about 44 percent of the entire population'.

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness –- shut down one by one. An astonishing story from TED